Train health care professionals to recognize patients at risk for substance abuse

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley received a $864,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to teach health-care professionals how to recognize and refer patients at risk for substance abuse to treatment programs.

The grant went into effect Sept. 30 and will be distributed over three years.

During that time, 1,737 students, 587 students per year, who are pursuing careers in health care will complete Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment training, including 282 medical residents. The majority of students who will receive the training will be nurses, dental hygienists and assistants, individuals pursuing careers in behavioral health and other health professionals.

“Drug and alcohol addiction in our area is very high – we exceed both state and national averages,” said Crystal Jones, grant director, Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, Mahoning County has the second-highest drug-overdose death rate of Ohio’s major metropolitan counties. Annual drug-overdose rates in Mahoning County are 14.9 per 100,000 residents. In Trumbull County, the numbers are even grimmer, with 20.2 overdoses per 100,000 residents.

The SBIRT training will be provided to students who are enrolled in any one of 12 fully accredited residency programs in multiple primary and specialty care disciplines at any of Mercy Health’s three local hospitals, St. Elizabeth Youngstown, St. Joseph Warren or St. Elizabeth Boardman; students enrolled in programs for other health professions at Mercy College of Ohio, Mercy Behavioral Health Institute, Youngstown State University dental hygiene program, Choffin School of Accredited Dental Assisting, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Turning Point Counseling Services and Ohio State University College of Dentistry.